Global-local analysis of granular media in quasi-static equilibrium

A method of global-local analysis is developed for quasi-static equilibrium problems for granular media. The two-scale modeling based on mathematical homogenization theory enables us to formulate two separate boundary value problems in terms of macro- and microscales. The macroscale problem governs the equilibrium of a global structure composed of granular assemblies, while the microscale one is posed for the particulate nature of a local structure with the friction-contact mechanism between particles. The local structure is identified with a periodic representative volume element, or equivalently, a unit cell, over which averaging is performed. The mechanical behavior of unit cells is analyzed by a discrete numerical model, in which spring and friction devices connect rigid particles, whereas the continuum-based finite element method is used for the macroscopic one. Representative numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the capability of the proposed two-scale analysis method for granular materials. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.